Even as the industry chases a cheaper kilowatt hour, demand for solar PV systems is on the rise from both business and consumers, analysts say. Clean Edge forecasts that the total solar industry is poised to expand from $11.2 billion last year to $51.1 billion in 2015.

Government subsidies and incentives are an important part of the demand picture, say industry executives and analysts. Germany has perhaps the most aggressive solar incentive program in the world and a large solar market. California has earmarked about $3 billion over the next 10 years to build 3,000 megawatts of capacity in its "million roofs" solar initiative.

The financial community has taken note. Three solar companies went public last year--Q-Cells, SunPower and Suntech Power--raising a combined $800 million.

Because the solar PV industry is so dependent on silicon, many entrepreneurs and venture capitalists can transfer their skills from the semiconductor and IT industries, according to industry experts.

For example, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the company that funded IT industry mainstays Sun Microsystems, Google and Amazon.com, recently launched a $100 million "greentech" fund. One company in its portfolio is thin-film producer Miasole.

The spike of investment dollars reflects the growing maturity of the solar PV industry, said Clean Edge's Pernick, who expects competition among solar companies and among countries promoting solar power to go up.

"We're not going to have a future where there is just renewable energy. It's going to be a mix for some time and rightly so," he said. "But people are moving the needle forward very aggressively."

I agree that Thomas Edison was right. He also said opportunity is often missed because it comes disguised as hard work. Another thing, as Americans, maybe people in general, we don't act in our benefit unless we are faced with a challenge, and we don't make great leaps unless we are REACTING to something. So, we are finally reacting to the fact that we are hurting our planet on a daily basis by relying solely on fossil fuels. I am 30 years old and I want to be a part of my sons future by contributing to the preservation on what was fought for, and the gift GOD has given us. That house made not of hands, shall remain forever in the heavens.

Solar power is a very exciting thing, though not economically cheap, i believe the possibilities are improving for this technology. The BBC ran a segment on solar power not long ago, the researcher they interviewed said that if 4% of the worlds deserts were usued to produce solar energy that it would supply the worlds need for power. This is not to bad considereing right now the majority of solar panels are less than 30% effective. Though not very economical now perhaps with the right developments this could be a superior source of energy. Addimititedly our fossil fuel friends have done some good things, like assit to make the northwest passage a reallity in the next 50 years(from nova's series artic explorers), however with effort there is the possibility cleaner and cheaper energy.

Wow! Africa, currently the dark (and hottest) continent, at least on its north side, would rise up and be the energy moguls of the next generation, much like the Middle East currently has a chokehold on the world energy market based on its demand for oil. Although, it would probably not be able to afford the investment needed to set up a solar panel mega-farm across the Sahara desert without international funding.

I think the world energy requirements will keep going up, even with more energy efficient devices, because more people are going to be using these devices in the future, and that would lead to an increase in demand.

The HelioDynamics Concentrating Combined Heat and Power solar system has broken the capital cost barrier that has stood in the way of the proliferation of solar. It's a distributable scale unit from 1 kWe (plus 10kW of heat) on up to megawatts! How come it wasn't included in the article?

Here is how you start making a big difference, with large roof solar installations. SIT has done large area warehouse roofs for Coke, Frito Lay and others, and recently a trial Wal-mart roof in McKinney, Texas. <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.solarintegrated.com/" target="_newWindow">http://www.solarintegrated.com/</a>

They use the durable and rugged panels from Unisolar, and bond them directly to their roofing membranes for a 25 year warranty roof that produces electricity from early morning to evening. The Unisolar panels do not use crystalline silicone, so are immune from the shortage, and are made by the mile on a stainless steel substrate.

Would it be too much of a wet blanket question to all of the enthusiastic supporters of widespread solar energy developments if I asked for some cost and production numbers?

How much power can a roof sized solar system produce at its peak?

How much power does the building underneath the solar system need?

How long will the solar panel operate?

How often does the system need maintenance in order to keep its output within advertised capabilities?

How much does it cost to clean?

How large are the taxpayer costs per unit of delivered power in subsidies?

How much do electric utility customers pay for the mandated uses of the technology?

I have been reading about solar breakthroughs since 1973. Little has changed except for the cost of the competition and the quantity of dollars flowing from taxpayers and monopoly utility companies.

I believe that there is a very good reason why BP spends a tiny portion of its annual revenue on solar energy and then spends even more promoting its resulting image as a company that is "beyond petroleum".

Would it be too much of a wet blanket question to all of the enthusiastic supporters of widespread solar energy developments if I asked for some cost and production numbers?

How much power can a roof sized solar system produce at its peak?

How much power does the building underneath the solar system need?

How long will the solar panel operate?

How often does the system need maintenance in order to keep its output within advertised capabilities?

How much does it cost to clean?

How large are the taxpayer costs per unit of delivered power in subsidies?

How much do electric utility customers pay for the mandated uses of the technology?

I have been reading about solar breakthroughs since 1973. Little has changed except for the cost of the competition and the quantity of dollars flowing from taxpayers and monopoly utility companies.

I believe that there is a very good reason why BP spends a tiny portion of its annual revenue on solar energy and then spends even more promoting its resulting image as a company that is "beyond petroleum".

You asked for numbers. Here goes:Each bay of HelioDynamics Harmony CHP solar system produces around 500 We peak and 3 kW-thermal, at temperatures near to water boiling point, at noon.

Over the year, in Central Valley, California, plan on 1000 kWhe per bay of power and 6000 kWh of heat per bay. Using the heat to power an absorption chiller will save around 2000 kWhe of power for air-con. Each bay requires 150 sq ft of roof area. By shading a translucent roof membrane, it will also displace a further 300 We of lighting, saving around 1000 kWhe of lighting power each year.

For a piublic, commercial or industrial building, the building could see a major reduction (&gt;50%) in its energy demand from grid energy.

Design life - 30 years. Actual life - if maintained: indefinite.

Self cleaning keeps maintenance visits to 1/year.Subsidies - my question is what is implied subsidy of the fossil fuel industry in having a licence to foul up the thermostat setting of the planet?

And we use only 3% of the silicon to achieve this compared with flat plate solar. The world has just been changed, my friend.

I understand the ostrich population is increasing at a tremendous rate...I don't know this but from what I understand, having paid close attention to the studies regarding global warming...the only way to avoid it may still be to stick your head in the sand.Go Ostriches!owlafaye

California is going to spend 3 billion dollars for 3000 kilowatts? did i read that right? How many Nuke plants could you build for $3 billion.WHAT A HUGE WASTE OF MONEY ALL BECAUSE ENVIROMENTALISTS CAN NOT ADMIT THEY WERE WRONG ABOUT NUCLEAR POWER. Even the French figured it out.

I am living in a place that cost .50 cents a kilowatt!!! New energy solutions need to be made affordable so people can switch from using the utility companies.. I do a lot of research but the utility company is still cheaper per kilowatt, than me investing in products that cost a small fortune. I don't plan on being here long time but I would make purchase's that would lower my kilowatt usage.

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